Thomas Rogers LeGates

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Rogers LeGates, 78, of McHenry, IL, who left us unexpectedly on February 11, 2025 due to complications following a kidney transplant. Born on March 5, 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts to Eber Thompson and Sybil (nee Crews) LeGates, Tom was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose warmth and kindness touched many lives.
Tom was good-hearted, kind and patient, a caring father and grandfather who treasured visits from family and friends. He was the devoted husband of Paula Kuehl, and spent countless weekends at art fairs across the region, always ensuring that she was supported with love, care, and a steady pair of hands to schlep the art in and out of the car.
Tom grew up in Winchester, MA and graduated from high school at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. His academic curiosity led him to college at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a few years too early to be a hippie. When plans to join the Peace Corps fell through he began what was to be a long career in information technology. After retiring from Kemper Insurance, he carried on his passion for tinkering by building computers, planning model train layouts, decking out his motorcycle, and owning his own airplane. He was so much more than what we can capture here with these words. Most of all he loved and was loved deeply by his family and friends.
Flight was one of Tom's treasured hobbies. He was an experienced private pilot and dedicated many years of service to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), where he was a long-standing member of EAA Chapter 790. He looked forward to the annual Airventure fly-in at Oshkosh, and spent many happy Augusts volunteering his time, talent, effort (and sweat, dust and bug bites too!) at the event.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 25 years Paula Kuehl, brothers John LeGates (Nancy Boulton-LeGates) and Dick LeGates (Joanne Fraser), daughters Sarah LeGates (Michael Tanner) and Margaret Lehr (David Jr.), bonus children Anne Marie Rector (Nathan), Eric Kuehl (Anne), and Jason Kuehl (Jen), nieces Rebecca LeGates (Jonathan Root) and Courtney LeGates (Alex Strader), grandchildren Joshua and Jonathan Tanner, Tommy and Sammy Lehr, Natalie Rector, Maggie Kuehl, Amelia, Erica and Ehren Kuehl, Amber Hefner (Nick), and Hailey Kuehl, and many cousins, in addition to a community of caring friends and neighbors. He is also remembered by his former wife, Jennie LeGates, with whom he shared children Sarah and Margaret.
A celebration of life will be held in Illinois later in 2025. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Kisselburg-Wauconda Funeral Home for their compassion and assistance during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the EAA Young Eagles program to help the next generation experience the joy of flight. https://www.eaa.org/eaa/apps/donations/donationye
High Flight
By John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.